Autophagous multifunction structure-power system

ABSTRACT

A vehicle including at least one bladder for containing a fuel as liquid and gas at a predetermined pressure, with a bladder outlet arranged to releasing fuel from the bladder and to maintain the fuel in the bladder at the predetermined pressure, the fuel provides thrust to the vehicle upon combustion, the fuel-filled bladder providing initial structural integrity of the vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, the vehicle is an unmanned anal vehicle. A combustion chamber and thermoelectric conversion module can generate electricity for a propellor and battery from the fuel supply. Internal vapor pressure is maintained until the fuel bladder is empty.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional application 60/610,865, filed in the United States on Sep. 1, 2004, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a vehicle including a multifunctional material which serves both as fuel and as structural support.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Typical unmanned air vehicles use separate, single-function structural and power components. Structural elements of unmanned air vehicles often include a fuselage, wings with one or more spars, ribs, and covering skin, an empennage (tail), structure, and vertical and horizontal control surfaces.

For vehicles powered by internal combustion or gas turbine engines, liquid fuel is typically used. The weight of liquid fuel can be used to lower the mechanical stresses occurring in the wings by appropriately locating the fuel within the wing. However, this effect lessens as the fuel is consumed.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,904,749 to Joshi et al. discloses multifunctional material for use as fuel and structure, including a polyoxymethylene for structural support member and propellant of an aircraft.

Multifunctional materials are described in: Muhammad A. Qidwai, James Thomas, and Peter Matic, “Structure-battery multifunctional composite design,” Proc. SPIE Int. Soc. Opt. Eng. 4698, 180 (2002); Thomas, J. P., Qidwai, M. A., Matic, P., Everett, R. K., Gozdz, A. S., Keennon, M. T., and Grasmeyer, J. M., “Structure-Power Multifunctional Materials for UAV's,” Proc. SPIE Int. Soc. Opt. Eng. 4698, 160 (2002); Baucom, J. N., Thomas, J. P., Pogue, W. R. III, and Qidwai, M. A., “Autophagous Structure-Power Systems,” Proc. SPIE Int. Soc. Opt. Eng. 5387, 96 (2004); Qidwai, M. A., Thomas, J. P., Kellogg, J. C., and Baucom, J., “Energy Harvesting Concepts for Small Electric Unmanned Systems,” Proc. SPIE Int. Soc. Opt. Eng. 5387, 84 (2004); Rodriguez, J. F., Thomas, J. P., and Renaud, J. E., “Design of Fused-Deposition ABS Components for Stiffness and Strength,” Journal of Mechanical Design, 125(3), 545-551 (2003); Thomas, J. P. and Qidwai, M. A., “The Design and Application of Multifunctional Structure-Battery Materials Systems,” Jom, 57(3), 18-24 (2005); and Thomas, J. P. and Qidwai, M. A., “Mechanical Design and Performance of Composite Multifunctional Materials,” Acta Materialia, 52(8), 2155-2164 (2004).

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The system and methods described herein can extend mission life and/or increase payload capacity in vehicles by increasing on-board system energy while maintaining system weight, or by decreasing structure weight fraction while maintaining system weight and amount of on-board energy. The fuel performs a structural function, which eliminates the need for some passive structure. In the process of providing useable energy to the system, structural components “self-consumed” are autophagous.

One embodiment of the invention is directed to an unmanned arial vehicle, and can increase in fuel weight fraction, decrease the structure weight fraction, and maintaining the overall system weight and structural performance capability.

In one embodiment, a lightweight flexible polymeric composite cage in the form of a long, hollow cylindrical beam contains a polymeric bladder that holds hydrocarbon liquid-gas fuel. The vapor pressure of the fuel expands the bladder and maintains an expanded cross-section for the composite cage maximizing its area moment of inertia, which thereby provides the beam with enhanced bending stiffness and buckling strength. The structure function performed by the fuel is maintained until all of the fuel is consumed. The fuel and its vapor serve as the core material for the composite beam, which eliminates the weight of the passive core material. In addition, fuel is now carried within the structure thereby eliminating the weight of a stand-alone fuel tank. The embodiment has been designed particularly to serve as a wing spar for an unmanned air vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an air vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph of specific energy versus energy density for some fuels suitable for use in embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an expanded view of a portion of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a graph of vapor pressure versus temperature for some liquid-gas fuels suitable for use in embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an expanded view of a portion of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate fuel-structure spars according to embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a laboratory setup and prototype unit for demonstrating a system according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates schematically additional features of a combustion chamber and thermoelectric conversion unit suitable for use in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates deflection versus load for a cantilevered pressurized spar according ton an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates the stiffness and maximum load for the three internal pressure values of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

An embodiment of the invention provides for a vehicle comprising at least one fuel bladder for containing a pressurized liquid-gas fuel, the fuel providing both thrust and structural support to the vehicle.

In some embodiments, the present invention generally relates to a fuel filled bladder that provides fuel for combustion and provides structural support for a vehicle. As used herein, a “fuel” is a material that is able to be employed to create energy or to produce thrust or propulsive force. The propulsive force can be produced directly by release of gases caused by pyrolysis or combustion of the fuel, or indirectly by accumulation and delayed release or combustion of products of pyrolysis or products of combustion of the fuel.

FIG. 1 is a cross section of an air vehicle 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The vehicle 100 includes one or more wings 110, shown here as two wings attached to a fuselage 130, although it is also suitable to configure the aircraft as a flying wing-type vehicle with a single wing acting as the fuselage.

A combustion chamber/thermoelectric conversion unit 140 within the fuselage 130 generates heat through combustion of fuel. In a preferred embodiment, combustion chamber/thermoelectric conversion unit 140 includes a combustion chamber 145 formed of a conductive material that transfers heat to a surrounding thermoelectric module 150 that is preferably in direct contact with the conductive wall of the combustion chamber 145. As the fuel is combusted, heat is generated in the combustion chamber 145, heating the walls of the combustion chamber. Heat is exchanged between the combustion chamber walls and the thermoelectric module 150. Energy generated by the thermoelectric modules 150, 151 is transferred to a power conditioner 190. Conditioned power from the power conditioner drives the propellor 170 or other thrust generating device and can provide electrical power to any other systems on the air vehicle that require electrical power.

While the power conditioner is preferred, power from the thermoelectric modules 150 can also directly drive electrical systems of the air vehicle or can provide electrical power to a battery (not shown).

The conductive material that forms the wall or walls of the combustion chamber can be copper or another material with a high heat transfer coefficient. One or more heat sinks 170, 171 can be adjacent to the thermoelectric modules 150 and 151 to receive unconverted heat from the thermoelectric module 150. The heat sinks 170, 171 can include one or more ribs or fins that extend through the fuselage 130 to better dissipate heat to the atmosphere.

A nozzle 180 with an ignition element directs the fuel into the combustion chamber and ignites the fuel-oxygen mixture. In a preferred embodiment, oxygen for combustion is supplied through an air intake. Alternatively, oxygen can be provided from an oxygen tank (not shown) or other source.

Fuel is stored in the wings 110 of the vehicle 100 in a multifunctional autophagous fuel-structure spar 120. The spar 120 can be a long, hollow cylindrical beam that includes a polymeric fuel bladder that holds pressurized hydrocarbon liquid-gas fuel. Prior to flight, fuel is introduced into the spar through a fuel inlet 121 that be located at an end of one wing or at another locations on the wing. Fuel exits the spar through a fuel outlet 122 located at an opposite end of a wing, or at another location on the wing.

Fuel in gaseous form flows from the spar 120 to the combustion chamber/thermoelectric conversion unit 140 through a flow control system 111. The flow control system 111 can include a bladder interface 123, a remotely actuated on/off flow control valve 124, tubing 126, and an optional pressure-reduction orifice 125. All of the component materials for the flow control system 111 are preferably chemically compatible with the selected fuel. The tubing 126 is preferably rated for the fuel vapor pressures and expected operating temperatures. The flow control valve 124 may be servo-actuated or a latching solenoid type. The optional pressure-reduction orifice 125 can be included to allow the pressure can be reduced to a desired fuel pressure at the burner, if the desired fuel pressure is less than the vapor pressure.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are graphs showing the specific energy available in Watt-hours per kilogram for different materials suitable for fuel or for batteries. Materials suitable for gas fuels include Acetylene, hydrogen, ethane, and methane. Materials suitable for liquid-gas fuels include propane and n-butane. Materials suitable for liquid fuel are ethanol, methanol, gasoline, diesel fuel, and RC model fuel. Materials suitable for solid fuel include polypropylene, polyethylene, and PMMA. Materials suitable for use in batteries include Ni—Cd (S), Ni-MH (S), Li-Ion/SPE (S), and Zn-Air (P).

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the vapor pressure versus temperature for various materials suitable as liquid-gas fuels, including acetylene, ethane, methylacetylene, propylene, propane, vinylacetylene, 1,3 Butadiene, 1-Butene, n-Butane, and iso-Butane.

The fuel used in the vehicle 100 can be any suitable hydrocarbon fuel, including but not limited to the fuels shown in FIGS. 2 through 5. In a preferred embodiment, the fuel includes n-butane or propane. N-butane and propane have high heats of combustion, a wide range of vapor pressures, and burn cleanly. The fuels can be used in pure form or as a mixture depending on the operational requirements. For example, fuel mixtures can be formulated to provide a desired vapor pressure at an expected operating temperature.

An amount of fuel is added to the fuel bladder and the bladder is sealed, with the amount of fuel sufficient to maintain the fuel in a liquid-gas state at a desired vapor pressure for an expected operational temperature. The vapor pressure causes the fuel and bladder to exert outward force on a lightweight support structure, adding structural support to the vehicle for takeoff and flight. As fuel exits the bladder to provide propulsive power, the liquid fuel evaporates to maintain the vapor pressure in the bladder, maintaining a substantially constant pressure until the fuel is emptied.

For pure substances and their mixtures, the vapor pressure (in equilibrium with the liquid phase) is a function of temperature, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. The fuel-bladder system described herein uses this thermodynamic characteristic to maintain substantially constant internal pressure within the spar bladder during consumption of the fuel. This maintains a constant level of structure function until all of the liquid fuel has vaporized. In particular, the

In one embodiment, the fuel is n-butane, which achieves a fuel vapor pressure of approximately 45 psig (approximately 400 kPa) at room temperature.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the spar 120 includes a support structure that provides support to the fuel bladder 620. The fuel bladder 620 can comprise a thin-film polymer bladder that is chemically compatible with the selected fuel and impervious or substantially impervious to diffusion by the fuel vapor.

The support structure can be a composite cage 610 that substantially encompasses the fuel bladder 620.

As seen in FIG. 6, the fuel has both a liquid phase 650 and a gaseous phase 651. In operation, the vapor pressure of the fuel expands the bladder 620 against the support structure 610, pushing it outwards.

To prevent the bladder 620 from blistering through gaps in the spar cap/rib network, the bladder can be sheathed with a woven light-weight Kevlar™ fabric. In an exemplary embodiment, the bladder, sheath, and spar cap strips are bound circumferentially by a series of Kevlar™ thread wraps, which provide hoop reinforcement and restrict outward buckling of the spar cap strips. The spar cap strips are connected at each end by composite end-caps. When the bladder 620 is pressurized, the axial strips are put in tension and the overall beam assembly becomes significantly stiffer and resistant to inward local buckling of spar-caps. Although Kevlar™ material is used in an exemplary embodiment, other low weight, high strength materials such as graphite-epoxy materials are also suitable.

In an exemplary embodiment of a spar 120 for an air vehicle 100, the spar includes a tubular thin-film polymer (C-Lam) bladder 620 purchased commercially from AeroTec Laboratories that is 0.75 inches in diameter and 18 inch length. The bladder 620 is housed in a composite cage comprising a Kevlar sheath with four thin strips of unidirectional graphite-epoxy laminate bonded along the length of the spar (spar-caps) and multiple transverse “ribs” formed by Kevlar thread winding. The graphite-epoxy spar-caps are attached lengthwise around the circumference of the spar. The spar-caps can be equal in width or unequal in width, and can be sized for the expected mechanical load distribution on the spar. These spar-caps are the main load carrying component of the spar and are held at a fixed distance from the central axis by the pressurized bladder. The spar thus achieves a high-level of mechanical performance using small amounts of light-weight, high-modulus materials held rigid by the pressurized bladder.

In operation, the vapor pressure of the fuel expands the bladder 220 and maintains an expanded cross-section for the cage 210 maximizing its area moment of inertia, which thereby provides the beam with enhanced bending stiffness and buckling strength. The structure function performed by the fuel is maintained until all of the fuel is consumed.

The spar 120 serves two operational functions: structure and power. Structure function is maintained until all liquid fuel has vaporized and only gaseous fuel remains, after which the pressure drops as fuel consumption continues.

The fuel and its vapor serve as the core material for the composite beam, which eliminates the weight of the passive core material. Another advantage of this embodiment is that the weight of the support cage and bladder are less than the weight of a stand-alone fuel tank. The embodiment is particularly useful as a wing spar for an unmanned air vehicle, however, has many other suitable vehicle, propulsion, and power generation applications.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary combustion chamber/thermoelectric conversion unit 140 in more detail. The combustion chamber/thermoelectric conversion unit 140 includes a copper combustion chamber 145, an input plenum 910 for a flame with a first input thermocouple 911, polyimide frames 920 and 921 on opposite sides of the combustion chamber, thermoelectric modules 150 and 151, and aluminum heat sinks 160 and 161. Thermocouples are arranged at a wall and at the exhaust of the combustion chamber. Thermocouples are arranged on each of the thermoelectric modules. Each heat sink 160, 161 can transfer heat to ribs or fins 930 that extend through the fuselage 130 to dissipate heat to the atmosphere.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 9, to initiate the power function, fuel flow is permitted by actuation of the flow control valve 124, followed by the triggering of an igniter at the mouth of a burner. This ignites a flame which sends combustion products through the combustion chamber 145. As the gases heat the chamber 145 to a steady state, the electrical power output of the thermoelectric modules 150, 151 reach a maximum. When the thermal conditions at the heat sinks remain constant and that the electrical load remains constant, the thermoelectric output will also remain constant until all of the fuel is consumed. To maximize power output from the thermoelectric modules, the electrical load resistance can be balanced.

Commercially available thermoelectric modules can be used, for example, two Tellurex CZ1-1.0-127-1.27HT thermoelectric modules can be connected in series). For these modules, the required load resistance ranges between 1-20 ohms.

In an exemplary embodiment, fuel is initially ignited at the mouth of the burner nozzle by a spark, which may be generated by a charged capacitor, piezoelectric element, or other device. The combustion chamber 145 is preferably formed of a thermally conductive material with high internal surface area to maximize heat transfer from the products of combustion. The exterior of the combustion chamber is shaped and finished to provide maximum contact with minimal thermal resistance at the interface with the thermoelectric modules. Thermal grease may be used to improve thermal contact at interfaces between the combustion chamber 145 and the thermoelectric modules 150, 151, and other heat transfer interfaces, including the heat sink interfaces. Heat sinks 160, 161 with high surface area and low thermal resistance are placed on the other side of each module. Similarly, the shape and finish of the heat sinks are such that the thermal resistance at the heat sink to thermal module interface is minimized. Thermoelectric modules 150, 151 are chosen based on required power, voltage, current, and load characteristics. To further improve thermal contact, a clamping mechanism can be provided to clamp the components together to induce a pressure at the module interfaces and increase heat transfer. Air and exhaust porting provides adequate air intake and flame stability, as well as to duct hot exhaust gas away from the heat sinks. Insulation is applied to exposed areas of the combustion chamber to minimize radiative heat loss from the chamber and direct heat transfer between the chamber and heat sinks.

The foregoing discussion concentrates on embodiments of a vehicle that include a combustion chamber for combusting hydrocarbon fuel. In embodiments of the invention, fuel can also directly provide propulsion through an internal combustion engine. Electrical power generated by the thermoelectric conversion module or an internal combustion engine can also be used to charge an on-board battery.

FIG. 8 illustrates a laboratory setup and prototype unit for demonstrating a system according to an embodiment of the invention. A spar 820 is filled with pressurized nitrogen and one end is fixed. The spar's length is approximately 46 centimeters and its width is approximately 1.9 cm. A weight 840 is applied to the unsupported far end 850 of the spar. Pressurized n-butane gas is provided to the combustion and thermoelectric conversion portion of the prototype system. The nitrogen gas in the spar 820 set at a test pressure to determine the mechanical characteristics of the spar, for example, the deflection versus load, stiffness, and maximum load for different test pressures.

FIG. 10 illustrates deflection versus load for a cantilevered pressurized spar of FIG. 8 as a function of internal pressure (0, 15, and 30 psig) in which the internal pressure is supplied and controlled using regulated nitrogen gas. FIG. 11 illustrates the stiffness and maximum load for the three internal pressure values. The pressurized spar shows a significant increase in stiffness (approximately 50% @ 15 psig) and a very significant increase in the failure load (approximately 450% @ 15 psig), which can be manifested by inward localized buckling of the lower (compressed) spar-cap.

Although not wishing to be bound by theory, the following equations are provided to provide guidance on expected flight endurance for an electrically powered unmanned autonomous vehicle with an autophagous structure-power system as discussed in previous paragraphs and illustrated in FIG. 1.

The flight endurance time, tE, can be derived by consideration of force balance of the aircraft drag and thrust forces. The total flight endurance time is the sum of the homogeneous and particular solutions corresponding to the autophagous structure-power contribution and the battery contribution (accounting for the decrease in weight during flight). The particular solution for t_(E) is implicit, however, an explicit but complicated solution may be obtained. The following equations can be used for performing design analysis and sizing of autophagous structure-power components for unmanned air vehicles. In the absence of autophagous structure-power, the endurance time consists solely of the battery contribution with constant-weight conditions during flight. The exact expression for t_(E) in this case can be obtained by solving the equation at the top of the box setting dW/dt equal to zero.

In particular, the power required for steady and level flight can be expressed as a function of the motor/propellor efficiency multiplied by the available battery plus available autophagous power:

${\eta_{\underset{prop}{motor}}\left( {\frac{E_{B}\eta_{B}}{t_{E}} - {\frac{1}{c_{A}}\frac{W}{t}}} \right)} = {\left( \frac{2C_{D}^{2}}{\rho_{\infty}{SC}_{L}^{3}} \right)^{1/2}W^{3/2}}$

This equation can be arranged as

${\frac{W}{t} + {C_{1}W^{3/2}}} = C_{2}$ ${{with}\mspace{14mu} C_{1}} = {\frac{c_{A}}{\eta_{\underset{prop}{motor}}}\left( \frac{2C_{D}^{2}}{\rho_{\infty}{SC}_{L}^{3}} \right)^{1/2}}$ ${{and}\mspace{14mu} C_{2}} = {\frac{E_{B}\eta_{B}}{t_{E}}c_{A}}$

A homogenous solution for the autophagous contribution to the flight endurance t_(E) is

$t_{E} = {\frac{2}{C_{1}}\left( {\frac{1}{\sqrt{W_{Total} - W_{Fuel}}} - \frac{1}{\sqrt{W_{Total}}}} \right)}$

with the particular solution considering the battery contribution to the flight endurance being:

${t_{E} + {\int_{W{(t_{E})}}\frac{\tau}{{C_{1}\tau^{3/2}} - C_{2}}}} = {{Const}.}$

In some embodiments, this invention provides a method of propelling a vehicle. In one example, the method includes releasing at least a portion of a pressurized gas-liquid fuel contained within a fuel bladder into a combustion chamber of a vehicle, the pressurized gas-liquid fuel being contained within a fuel bladder, the fuel and bladder providing initial structural support to the vehicle.

An advantage of the pressurized fuel bladder spar system described herein is that a non-fueled spar can be folded into a very low-volume configuration prior to filling with fuel, allowing compact storage prior to use. Another advantage is that autophagous structures such as the pressurized fuel bladder systems described herein are easily discarded after the fuel has been consumed.

In addition, the spar system and vehicle herein can provide additional energy storage capacity while maintaining the approximately the same overall weight and mechanical performance capability, yielding an increased flight time endurance. Alternatively, the spar system and vehicle can provide an identical energy storage capacity with lower structure plus fuel weight and the same mechanical performance capability resulting in increased payload capacity with the same flight endurance time. Moreover, the autophagous structure-fuel can provides longer flight endurance times than equivalent (same specific energy) battery systems due to the decrease in structure weight that comes from the use of multifunctional structure-fuel and the decrease in fuel weight during flight.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims. 

1. A vehicle comprising: at least one bladder for containing a fuel as liquid and gas at a predetermined pressure; the bladder having an outlet for arranged to releasing the fuel from the bladder and to maintain the fuel in the bladder at the predetermined pressure; the fuel providing thrust to the vehicle upon combustion, the fuel-filled bladder providing initial structural integrity of the vehicle.
 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an anal vehicle.
 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a combustion chamber for combusting the fuel.
 4. The vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising a thermoelectric converter for converting heat generated by the combustion chamber into electricity.
 5. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a remote controlled flow control valve.
 6. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a propellor arranged to propel the vehicle through air.
 7. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the fuel comprises a hydrocarbon.
 8. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the fuel comprises butane.
 9. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the fuel consists essentially of butane.
 10. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the fuel comprises propane.
 11. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the fuel consists essentially of propane.
 12. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the fuel has an energy density of at least 3 kiloWatt hour per kg.
 13. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the fuel has an energy density of at least 10 kiloWatt hour per kg.
 14. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a graphite epoxy sheath encompassing the bladder.
 15. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a structure substantially encompassing the bladder, wherein vapor pressure of the fuel expands the bladder outwardly agains the structure.
 16. The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the structure comprises kevlar.
 17. The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the structure comprises a sheath, a plurality of thin strips of unidirectional graphite-epoxy laminate bonded along a longitudinal direction of the spar, and a plurality of transversely extending ribs.
 18. The vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the ribs comprise Kevlar thread winding.
 19. A method of propelling a vehicle, comprising: releasing at least a portion of a liquid-gas fuel from a bladder, the interior of the bladder having an internal vapor pressure greater than an external pressure; said fuel and bladder providing initial structural integrity of the vehicle.
 20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising: combusting the fuel in a combustion chamber; and generating electricity for propulsion by thermoelectric conversion of heat from the combustion chamber. 